FULFORDS:   

Paddy, Dlnny and Mickey
A Merasheen Song Book could not be composed without making mention of one of the top singing families on the island. It seems that each and every one of the Fulfords right from the above mentioned down to today’s generation did an exceptionally fine job on parties, etc. Bill and Fergus were quite popular and of course, Trina, of the popular Corey and Trina is carrying on the tradition as her father and others in the family before her.

As well as being superb singers, the Fulfords were all excellent fishermen. They settled in the Island Cove and that part of the harbour has always been associated with them. Not only was it the location where they first lived, but it remained their place of residence right up to the last days of Merasheen as a community.

The Fulford family still has a fisherman in the family as Raymond purchased a Cape Island long liner recently and returns to Merasheen each year.

The Charming Young Widow

(This song was sung by Leo Fulford and sometimes by Din Pat Fulford)  

As l lived in Vermont, one morning last summer
A letter informed me my uncle was dead
And also requested l come down to Boston
He left me a large sum of money he said.
Of course l determined on making the journey
To book myself on the first class l would feign
Now had l gone second I'd have never encountered
The charming young widow l met on the train.

Scarce being seated within the compartment
Before the first passenger entered the door
A female, a young one, all dressed in deep mourning
An infant in long clothes she gracefully bore.
l sat down beside her and in conversation
Was freely indulged in with both til my brain
Fairly reeked with excitement l grew so enchanted
With the charming young widow l met on the train.

We became so familiar I ventured to ask her
How old was the child that she held at her breast
“Oh sir," she responded and into tears bursted
Her infant still closer she fondly pressed.
”When l think of my child, l am well nigh distracted
Its father my husband, my heart beats with pain"
As choking and sobbing laid her head on my waistcoat
Oh that charming young widow l met on the train.

By this time the train had arrived at the station     
Within a few miles of the great one in town
Me charmer exclaimed as she looked through the window
"Good gracious alive, why there goes Mr. Brown,
My late husband’s brother, dear sir would you kindly
My best beloved child for a moment sustain?"
Of course l complied and off on the platform
Stepped the charming young widow l met on the train.

Three minutes alas and the whistle it sounded
And the train began moving no widow appeared
I called out “Stop! Stop!" but they paid no attention
With a snort and a jerk started off as l feared!
In this dire dilemma I sought for the hour
Oh me watch, sure where was it and my, where's my chain’
My purse too, my ticket, gold pencil case - all gone!
Oh that awful young widow I met on the train.

While I was my loss thus so deeply bewailing
The Train again stopped and I "tickets please" heard.
I told the conductor while dangling the infant
The loss l sustained but he doubted my word.
He called two more officials and the lot gathered round me
Uncovered the child, oh, how could l explain?
Behold t’was no baby, t’was only a dummy
Oh that crafty young widow l met on the train.

Satisfied I'd been robbed they allowed my departure
Though, of course I'd to settle my fare the next day.
And I now wish to counsel young men from the country
Lest they should get served in a similar way.
Beware of those widows you meet on the railway
Lay their head on your shoulder and their tears fall like rain
Look out for your pockets in case they resemble
That awful young widow l met on the train.

Caroline and her Young Sailor Bold

(This was one of Bill's most popular songs!)   

There lived a rich nobleman’s daughter,
Caroline is her name l am told.
Looking out from her drawing room window,
She admired a young sailor bold.

His cheeks they did bloom like the roses
His hair was as black as the coal,
Caroline she took him as her partner,
Stepped out with her young sailor bold.

l am a rich nobleman‘s daughter,
Scarce twenty-five thousand in gold,
I'll leave my old father and mother,
To wed with a young sailor bold.

Don’t you leave your dear father and mother,
For you know they're the best friends you‘ll find,
In sailors don't place your dependence,
They'll leave their true lovers behind.

I'll never let anyone persuade me,   
One moment and then I‘ll decide,
I’ll dress like at jolly young sailor,
And then he won’t leave me behind.

She dressed like a jolly young sailor,
With trousers and jacket so blue,
Three years and a half on the ocean
She plied with her Willie so true,

Three times with her love she got shipwrecked,
She always proved loyal and true,
Her duty she did as a sailor,
Went aloft in her jacket so blue.

Her old father being a long time lamenting,
The tears like large raindrops did flow,
Til soon they arrived in Old England,
Caroline and her young sailor bold.

Oh father, dear father forgive me,
And do not deprive me of gold,
And grant one request that l ask you,
To wed with my young sailor bold.

Her old father he admired young Willie,
Because he belonged to the sea.
If my life it is spared until morning,
It's married this couple will be.

To the church they went early next morning,
Got joined hands in wedlock I'm told.
And now they live happy together
Caroline and her young sailor bold 

Gull Cove

(This was one of Bill Fulfords many songs)  

It happened to be in the summertime in the lovely month of June
When the birds were sweetly singing and the fields were in full bloom
We hurried and got ready, to prosecute did go
To cod fish down in Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

From Placentia Bay we sailed away, I mean from Petite Forte
Our fishing gear were cod traps, a voyage for to bring forth
But the cod fish it did fade away like it never done before
And we lost our gear in Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

The first three days we were down there, the weather it was fine
Until the next one it came on, it was another kind
We got our traps all ready, and soon we let them go,
And we sailed away from Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

We sailed over to St. Mary’s, it was our place of rest
And mostly up in Riverhead, a place we love the best
When the weather it got better, back to our gear did go
To the foaming strands of Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

When we arrived in Gull Cove, t’was looking very dull,
Our traps were in good order, likewise our skiffs and all
No sign of fish meshed in our twine and then we all did know
That t’would be a skunk in Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

Bill Emberley from Spencer's Cove in the schooner the Village Bride
He anchored down in Gull Cove upon the foaming tide
If he had to go to the Southern Shore, he'd get a load you know
But he anchored down in Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

The schooner Madonna Hayden and Tommy in command
He always got a saving voyage right here on Gull Cove strand
But as he left home the other day, he had no mind to go
To the foaming straits of Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

The schooner James and Mary, she's riding up ahead
And Captain James the other day unto his men he said
“There's no better sign today my boys than there were a month ago
And Gull Cove will defeat us where the stormy winds do blow".

The Carrie and Aggie Bailey and Patrick in command
Each day he is lamenting but that is God's command
We know God's will it must be done and that we all do know
For we all were down in Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

My song it only reaches as far as Ladder Cove Point
And they can't be doing much up there for they all look very buoyant
And perhaps they're getting fish up there and don‘t want us to know
Because we're down in Gull Cove where the stormy winds do blow.

If you want to know the composer, the man made up this song
My name it is John Hayes, from Parker's Cove belong
My name it is John Hayes, or some where’s there about
If you want more information, you must only find it out.

* Some verses corrected